Container with rigidizing corner structure and process of erecting same



Dec. 6, 1960 Filed Feb. 29, 1956 J. E. GILLMORE, SR CONTAINER WITHRIGIDIZING CORNER STRUCTURE AND PROCESS OF' ERECTING SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet1 Hiv-armer,

Dec- 5, 1960 J. E. GILLMORE, sR 2,963,210

.CONTAINER WITH RIGIDIETNG coRNER STRUCTURE AND PROCESS OF ERECTING SAME3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 29, 1956 /mwrmer J//N E. 6HL/MORE, 5R.

By E LW-0240.9.

Dec. 6, 1960 J. E. GILLMoRE, sR 2,963,210

CONTAINER WITH RIGIDIZING CORNE STRUCTURE n AND PROCESS 0F ERECTINGFiled Fb. 29, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a fw FIGJZ lla /a United StatesPatent i CONTAINER WITH RIGIDIZING CORNER STRUC- TURE AND PROCESS OFERECTING SAME John E. Gillmor-e, Sr., Tampa, Fla.

Filed Feb. 29, 1956, Ser. No. 568,668

1 Claim. (Cl. 229-31) The invention is applicable to shipping containerswhich `are vertically stacked in transit and storage and consequentlyrequire high stacking strength or top load test and also to receptaclessuch as cartons which.may be assembled by automatic machines.

More specifically, the invention relates to a novel structure forconnecting the adjacent ends of the walls of a rectangular shapedpaperboard receptacle in rigidified, locked right angular relation toeach other and to the bottom panel of the receptacle. The structurecomprises a rectangular shaped corner connecting member substantiallyequal in length and width to the height of the walls, divided intosubstantially counterpart right triangular sections by a diagonal scoreforming a common hypotenuse extending from the juncture of the bottompanel and the adjacent walls to the opposite corner of the connectingmember. A vertical side of one of the triangular sections is integrallyattached to the side of one wall while the horizontal side thereof isfree and in substantially coplanar relation with the upper edge of thesaid wall. The Vertical side edge of the other triangular section isintegral with the side of the adjacent wall and its horizontal side isprovided with a rigidifying flap having a locking projection on itsouter free end. The triangular sections are folded inwardly about thediagonal score into juxtaposition and the folded sections positionedflatwise against the inner face of the said adjacent wall. Therigidifying flap on the outer free end edge of the corner member isfolded inwardly `and downwardly atwise against the juxtaposed triangularsections with the locking projection thereon inserted in a locking slotin the bottom panel, completing a locked, reinforced, rigid, 4-plycorner structure.

The invention is especially applicable to relatively shallow collapsibleshipping containers for fresh tomatoes `and other fresh fruit andvegetables but is not limited to packaging these commodities. Thecontainer for these purposes is preferably constructed of containerboard and provided with a releasably locking telescoping cover to permitinspection of the containers in transit, the body of the containerproviding a convenient tray for displaying the contents at the retailsales level. For even greater stacking strength, in addition to thatprovided by the novel corner structure, the side walls may carry flapsfoldable about their upper edges inwardly and downwardly over the cornerstructure with projections on their outer edges inserted in lockingslots in the bottom panel, forming a S-ply reinforcement to the endmargins and corners of the side walls of exceptionally high stackingstrength or top load.

The invention is also especially useful in the construction ofrelatively small cartons and particularly carton trays made of singleply boxboard usually designated as carton stock. The trays areespecially adapted for packing select fresh fruit and vegetables, andreadily and rapidly set up from collapsed form by fully automaticmachines.

An object of the invention is to provide a shipping ice container ofhigh stacking strength comprising a 'body section and a releasablylocking telescoping cover wherein the side and end walls of the body areconnected together in right angular relation by a corner member foldedon its self along a diagonal score and positioned flatwise against theinner face of the side margin of one wall. The corner member has arigidifying ilap integral with its outer free end edge folded inflatwise relation over the folded sections thereof, firmly locking andrigidifying the side and end walls in right angular relation by aprojection on its free outer edge engaged in a matching slot in thebottom panel.

Another object is to provide a shipping container comprising a bodysection and a cover member, wherein exceptionally high stacking strengthis provided by va folded corner connecting, reinforcing `and lockingmember positioned on the inner face of the end margin of the side walland a flap integral with the upper edge of the side wall foldeddownwardly in atwise relation over the folded corner construction withprojections on its outer free edge secured in locking slots in thebottom panel.

Still another object is to provide a one-piece tray made of boxboard ofone or more plies which may be rapidly and automatically assembled fromcollapsed form, the tray comprising a bottom panel with side and endwalls connected together in right angular relation by inwardly foldedcorner members integral therewith, enclosed and locked in foldedrelation against the inner face of the side margin of an end wall by aninwardly folded ap on the outer free end edge of the corner memberhaving a projection on its outer edge extending into a locking slot inthe bottom panel.

Another object is to provide a one-piece tray formed of boxboard of oneo-r more plies having side and end walls secured together in rightangular relation by a connecting corner member scored diagonally todefine counterpart triangular sections, the corner member being foldedinwardly about the diagonal score with one triangular portion thereofadjacent the end wall spot glued to the inner face at the end wall, thefolded corner member being securely locked atwise against the inner faceof the end wall by an integral flap on its outer free end folded atwiseover the positioned cornermember with a locking projection on its outerend engaged in a bottom panel locking slot.

The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements andcombinations of parts hereinafter de# scribed and claimed. In theaccompanying drawings which form p-art of this specification and whereinlike numerals and symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

Fig. l is a plan View of the blank forming the body section of apreferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank forming the cover member for the bodysection;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a partially assembled body section withthe corner members of one of the side walls shown in the process offolding;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the body section showing thecorner member folded in place with the locking flap attached thereto inthe process of folding into position over the corner member;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the `inside of a corner ofthe body Section with the locking flap on the corner member in lockedposition;

Fig. 6 is la horizontal sectional view of one corner of the body sectionshown in Fig. 3 taken in the direction of the arrows 6-6; 1

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of one corner of the body sectionshown in Fig. 3 taken in the direction of the arrows 7-7;

Fig. 8 is -a perspective view of the partially assembled cover blank ofFig. 2;

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the fully assembled bodysection and cover positioned preparatory to combining;

Fig. 1() is a perspective view of the closed container with a portionbroken away to show the locking construction;

Fig. 11 is a veritcal sectional view of the closed container illustratedin Fig. l taken in the direction of the arrows 11--11;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the blank of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the blank of Fig. 12 with the side walls andcorner connecting yand reinforcing members folded inwardly iiatwise overtbe bottom panel and end walls for shipment;

Fig. 14 is ya perspective View showing the initial stage of erecting thecollapsed tray shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing the side and end walls fullyerected in right angular relation to the bottom panel;

Fig. 16 is a perspective View of the tray with the reinforcing andlocking flaps in releasably locked position;

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section of the corner of the tray shown in Fig.16 taken in the direction of the arrows 1717, and

Fig. 18 is a vertical section of a corner of the tray shown in Fig. 16taken in the direction of the arrows 18-18.

A body blank A comprises a bottom panel Sil defined by doublelongitudinal scores S1 and transverse scores 52. The longitudinal scores51 also define the bottom edges of side walls 53 and end w-alls 54. Theside and end Walls have corner connecting members 55 intgeral with theirside edges, the connecting members being divided into counterparttriangular sections 57 by diagonal scores 56 while the outer free endedge of the corner member is provided with a reinforcing and lockingflap 59 foldable about the double score 58. A locking projection 60 isformed on the outer free edge of the locking ap 59.

The side walls 53 have a locking slot 61 in their upper margins with itsupper boundary parallel to and spaced from the top of the wall and havetheir upper edge defined by a double score 62 which also provides thehinge line of a reinforcing flap 63 which is provided with lockingprojections 64 on its outer free edge. The side edges of the side wallflaps 63 are separated from the locking flap 59 by slots 65. The bottompanel has siots 66 for receiving the projections 60 and 64 in theassembled position of the blank with spring tabs 67 which releasablylock the projections in position.

A cover blank B, Fig. 2, has a cover panel 70 defined by longitudinalscores 71 and transverse scores 'i2 which also define the inner edge ofthe side cover tianges 73 and end cover ianges 74 respectively.Longitudinal double scores 75 define the fold line of side wall iiaps 76which have locking projections 77 on their outer edges and slots 78which define the side edges of locking flanges 79. The cover panel 70has locking slots Si! for receiving the flange flap projections 77 whichare held in releasably locked position by spring tabs S1. Flaps 82 arefoldable about the continuation of score 71 and are separated from theside flanges 73 -and fiange flaps 76 by slots 83.

The body blank A, Fig. 1, may be conveniently assembled by folding theend walls 54 upwardly in right angular relation to the bottom panel 50and likewise bending the side walls 53 upwardly in right yangularrelation to the end walls while simultaneously folding the triangularsections 57 of the corner member 55 inwardly about the diagonal score 56atwise on each other and against the inner face of the side walls 53.The reinforcing and locking flap 59 is then folded downwardly andinwardly over the folded triangular sections and the locking projection60 inserted in the bottom panel locking slot 66, securing andrigidifying the corner member in the position described. The side `wallaps 63 are next folded inwardly and downwardly over the folded cornermember with the locking projections 64 inserted in the bottom lockingslots- 66 and releasably secured in this position by the spring tabs 67.The described progressive stages of folding the blank A are illustratedin Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

The fully erected body section of the container is thus provided with a5ply rigidifying reinforcement structure at each end margin of the sidewalls, providing exceptionally high stacking strength or resistance totop load. The arrangement of the parts forming the 5ply reinforcement tothe corners and end margins of the side walls is shown in the sectionalviews, Figs. 6 and 7.

The blank B forming the telescoping cover of the container is assembledby folding the end walls 74 upwardly in right angular relation to thebottom panel 7 as shown in Fig. 8 with the end wall flaps 82 foldedright angularly inwardly. The side walls 73 are then folded upwardly inright angular relation to the end walls 74 and to the bottom panels 70and the side wall flaps 76 folded inwardly and downwardly over the endtiaps 82 with the locking projections 77 inserted in the locking slots8G in the cover panel. The completely assembled body blank A and coverblank B are shown in the exploded View Fig. 9. When the cover istelescoped over the body section, the locking flanges 79 of the coverengage the upper longitudinal boundary of the side wall openings 61,thereby securely locking the cover to the body section. The cover may bereleased from the body section for inspection of the contents or otherpurposes by pressing one of the side walls 53 inwardly at or near thelower boundary of the slot 61, thereby disengaging the cover lockingfiange 79 from the locking slot 61 in the side wall.

The container is readily and rapidly assembled with-- out the use ofglue, staples or any other extraneous means. In a particular useful formof the container, the

body section is relatively at, for example the height ofthe Walls beingjust suiiicient to retain a single row of' selected tomatoes. This andother fruit and vegetables are frequently subject to inspection intransit or 'at the wholesale markets. Such inspection may be made withease by releasing the cover from its locked relation with the bodymember as described. The container answers lali requirements of top loadstrength for stacking 20 or more of the loaded units for truck or railtransportation and storage. The body section also provides an excellentmeans for displaying the contents in the retail markets.

The blank C of Fig. 12 illustrates a modified form of the invention forproviding a rectangular tray which may be readily and rapidly assembledby either manual or automatic means. The bottom panel 162 is defined bylongitudinal scores and transverse scores 101. These scores also definethe bottom edges of side walls 103 and end walls 104. The adjacent endedges of the side and end walls are connected together by corner members105, integral on their end margins with the side wall and on their sidemargins with the end walls. Diagonal scores 106 divide the corner memberinto substantially counterpart triangular sections 167 and 108 while theouter end edge of the connecting member has an integral flap 110 hingedabout a double score 109, the flap having a locking projection 111 onits outer free edge.

Locking slots 112 are provided in the end margins of the bottom panel102 'adjacent the fold lines 101. An end wall flap 114 is hinged to theupper edge of the end walls 104 along score 113 separated from thereinforcing and locking flap 110 by slits 115.

The tray is preferably preassembled by the manufacturer by spot gluingthe triangular sections 107, as vshown at 116, flatwise `against theinner face of the Iend margin of the end Wall 104 and then folding theside walls 103 and the triangular sections 108 with their attachedreinforcing and locking flaps 110 atwise over the bottom section 102,the end walls 104 and the end wall aps 114 respectively, with the flaps110 extended outwardly in the plane of the side walls, as shown in Fig.13. The tray is preferably shipped to the user in the describedcollapsed form.

The tray may be rapidly erected at the point of use from the collapsedform, preferably by automatic means, by raising the side walls 103 asshown in the initial stage of erection in Fig. 14 into right angularrelation with the bottom panels whereby the end walls 104 areautomatically likewise drawn into right angular relation with the bottompanel and the side walls through the action of the triangular section108 with respect to the glued triangular sections 107 all as shown inFigs. 14 and 15. The rigidifying and locking flaps 110 are then foldedinwardly and downwardly flatwise over the previously folded triangularsections with the locking projections 111 engaging the locking slots 112in the bottom section. This completes the assembly of the tray. Thecorner structure of the tray is fully illustrated in the horizontal andvertical sections of Figs. 17 and 18 respectively.

The tray is especially useful in packaging select fresh fruits andvegetables for which purpose the tray may be wrapped in cellophane orother transparent iilm affording an attractive display package. Traysfor the described purposes are usually made from single ply boxboard orcarton stock wherein the novel corner connecting member with itsreinforcing locking ap insures a relatively strong, rigid end structure.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention hereindescribed are illustrative and not restrictive and it is also to beunderstood that the invention may be susceptible of embodiment in othermodified forms, and that all such modifications which are similar areequivalent hereto come within the scope of the apparent claim.

What I claim is:

In a collapsible rectangular paperboard receptacle comprising a bottomwith upstanding connected together opposed pairs of side and end walls,each side wall being of substantially similar dimensions and connectedat its lower end by a fold line to the bottom and which fold lineterminates at the juncture of a fold line which connects the end wallsto the bottom, each side wall having a flap hingedly connected theretoat its upper end and having spaced locking projections at its free edge,the dimensions of each side wall :Hap being substantially that of theside wall, each side wall being connected to its respective end wall atthe corners by a substantially rectangularly shaped tab of substantiallythe same height and width of the side and end walls, each of the saidconnecting tabs having a diagonal score which extends from the saidjuncture of the fold line of the respective side wall to a diagonallyopposite corner of this tab, each of the tabs being folded on itsdiagonal line into overlapping relationship and forming inner and outertab portions and with the respective inner tab portion being in contactwith an adjacent portion of each side wall, each of the inner tabportions having hingedly connected therewith at the upper end thereof areinforcing and locking ap which has three free edges, and there being alocking projection at a free end of each of the reinforcing and lockingflaps, the dimensions of each of the locking flaps being substantiallythe width of each side wall but of considerably less length than theside wall and `in overlapping contacting relationship with an adjacentouter tab portion with the said projection of each of the reinforcingand locking flaps in an adjacent slot in the bottom closely adjacent theconnection of the side wall with the bottom, and the side wall flapinfolded over and contacting the reinforcing and locking aps and withthe spaced projections thereof being also in the spaced slots.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,494,531 Corcoran May 20, 1924 1,776,134 Scruby Sept. 16, 19302,217,503 Bergstein Oct. 8, 1940 2,536,530 Bergstein Jan. 2, 19512,551,814 yRushing May 8, 1951 2,750,100 Greisman June 12, 1956 FOREIGNPATENTS 63,012 Norway Apr. 20, 1939 62,959 Norway Oct. 28, 1940

